Journal-box.



N o. 796,636. PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

F. GO'BTFRIED.

JOURNAL'BOX.

APPLIOATIOH FILED me. 27. 1902.

FREDERICK GOTTFRIED, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

JOURNAL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application filed August 27, 1902. Serial No. 121,228.

10 all whom, it muy concern; Y

Be it known that I, FREDERICK GOTTFRIED, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Journal-Boxes; and I hereby declare the following' to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to journal-boxes for shafts and to an improved construction of the same whereby either liquid oil or grease can be used for lubrication by simple change of the parts after adjustment and when the journal-box is completed or in use.

My improvement consists in a journal-bearing of the common construction in its essential features, but provided with a lubricatingchamber at the top arranged to receive capillary wicks to conduct liquid oil to the shaft over retaining walls or ledges at the ends of the bearing, also provided with gravity-oilways from this lubricating-chamber direct to a shaft arranged to receive' either plugs or thermal rods or pins to melt lubricating paste or grease and distribute the same to the shaft or bearing.

The object of my invention is to provide a journal-box that can be lubricated with either grease or liquid oil, as temperature and other operating conditions demand and without any structural change in the parts, substantially as illustrated in the drawings herewith forming a part of this specification.

Figure I represents a longitudinal section through a journal-box arranged for lubrication with liquid oil and in accordance with United States Patent No. 320,151, granted to Philip Medart on the 16th day of June, 1885, on which my present invention is an improvement. Fig. II is a longitudinal section through the same journal-box convertedor arranged for thermal lubrication with grease. Fig. III is a plan view of Fig. I with the cover of the lubricating-box removed.

Referring to the numerals of reference, 1 and 2 are the top and bottom parts of the journal-box, and 3 ashaft mounted therein.

4 is a lubricating-chamber cast integrally with the top or removable part 1 of the journal-box, provided with a swiveling coveringplate 5, pivoted on a screw 7 as seen in Figs". I and II. This cover 5 is pressed down on its seat by a spring 8 in the recess 9 and is provided with passages 10, that serve for oilways or to receive the pins 20, accordingly as oil or grease is used for lubrication, as hereinafter explained. This chamber 4 has a central cavity 13 to contain either oil or grease and passages 14 at the ends, that communicate to the shaft 3 by means of a longitudinal groove 15, soa wick or wicks 17 can be rove, as indicated in Fig. I, and oil supplied by capillary flow in the usual manner.

In the case of using'oil the holes 18 in the bottom of the chamber 13 are fitted with removable plugs, as shown in Fig. I, to prevent oil from escaping directly to the shaft 3. In the case of lubricating with grease the plugs are removed from the holes 18, the cavity 13 is filled with grease 19, as shown in Fig. II, and the thermal rods or pins 20 are inserted through the holes 10 and 18, their ends resting on shaft 3. These pins 20 are preferably made of copper or other heat-conducting metal, so the temperature of the shaft 3 is conducted to and melts the grease 19, that when liquid or soft runs down through the holes 18 around the pins 20, and thus maintains automatic lubrication of the bearing. The pins 20 are preferably loaded with weights 22 at the top, so as to secure and maintain their contact with the shaft 3. In this manner it will be seen that a journal-box thus constructed can be made as a standard article of manufacture and when' completed can by simple adjustment be adapted for lubrication by either oil or grease, as may be required.

Having thus explained the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a journal-box, acup for liquid lubricant, having tubes at its ends extending from near thel top to the journal-cavity, for the reception of capillary wicks, said cup having also apertures in its bottom, a swiveling cap on top, apertured to aline with the apertures in the bottom, and removable plugs in said apertures, substantially as specified..

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK GOTTFRIED.

Witnesses:

H. T. HEssELMEYER, FRANK BROWN. 

